Abstract
PurposeIt is well known that body mass index (BMI) affects how individuals perceive their well-being and that obese individuals tend to report poorer levels of subjective health status. The aim of this study was to compare subjects with and without FSD and to examine the direct and indirect impact of BMI on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in overweight/obese and normal-weight women.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 186 overweight/obese and 233 normal-weight women. FSD assessed with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was investigated in relation to body satisfaction assessed with the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT-A) and self-esteem assessed with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (RSE).ResultsNo difference in the prevalence of FSD was found between overweight/obese (44.4%) and normal-weight women (55.6%), even though significant between-group differences in body image were found. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) showed that BMI contribute to FSD only through the mediating role of body dissatisfaction and self-esteem.ConclusionsThe present results support the notion that sexual functioning is not related directly to BMI in women but to a more complex interactions of body weight, satisfaction with one’s own body image, and levels of self-esteem. Clinicians should take into account that for women having a good sexual life seems not related to body weight but to the way their body weight is perceived within the context of self-image.Level of evidenceLevel III, case–control analytic study.
Highlights
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a multifactorial sexual health problem that affects a substantial number of women worldwide [1] with a prevalence between 25 and 63% [2]
Sexual functioning is affected in patients with diabetes because of reduced energy from suboptimal glycemic control, alteration of self-image from obesity related to insulin resistance, and interpersonal difficulties deriving from the management of the illness [19, 20]
The present study aimed at investigating the relationship between female sexual functioning and body mass index (BMI)
Summary
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a multifactorial sexual health problem that affects a substantial number of women worldwide [1] with a prevalence between 25 and 63% [2]. Neuroticism has Sexual difficulties in women are greatly influenced by both health related and psychosocial factors, and are. Sexual functioning is affected in patients with diabetes because of reduced energy from suboptimal glycemic control, alteration of self-image from obesity related to insulin resistance, and interpersonal difficulties deriving from the management of the illness (e.g., dietary control and monitoring glucose) [19, 20]. Obese adults seeking bariatric surgery had worse quality of sexual life than those not seeking surgical treatment, even after controlling for body mass index (BMI) [21,22,23,24] as well as lower self-esteem and quality of life and higher depression, anxiety, and stress [25]
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